The Bloody Tenant of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience, Part 4 · Chapter 117
CHAP. CXVII.
Truth.
I Therefore proceed to a third difference between those Kings and Governours of Israel and Iudah, 3. The Kings of Israel and Judah invested with a… Spirituall power.and all other Kings and Rulers of the Earth. Looke upon the Administrations of the Kings of Israel and Iudah, and well weigh the Power and Authoritie which those Kings of Israel and Iudah exercised in Ecclesiasticall and spirituall causes, and upon a due search we shall not find the same Scepter of Spirituall power in the hand of Civill Authoritie, which was setled in the hands of the Kings of Israel and Iudah.
David appointed the Orders of the Priests & Singers, he brought the Arke to Ierusalem, he prepared for the building of the Temple, the patterne whereof he delivered to Salomon: yet David herein could not be a type of the Kings and Rulers of the Earth, but of the King of Heaven, Christ Iesus: for,
First, David, as he was a King, so was he also a Prophet, Acts 2. 30. and therefore a type (as Moses also was, of that great Prophet the Son of God. And they that plead for Davids Kingly power, must also by the same rule plead for his Propheticall, by which he swayed the Scep…er of Israel in Church affaires.
Secondly,David immeately inspired by the Spirit of God, in his ordering of Church ma… ters. it is expresly said, 1 Cron. 28. 11. 12. 13. verses, that the patterne which David gave to Salomon (concerning the matter of the Temple and Worship of God) he had it by the Spirit, which was no other but a figure of the immediate inspiration of the spirit of God, unto the Lord Iesus the true Spirituall King of Israel, John. 1. 49. Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; Rabbi, thou art the King of Israel.
Againe, What Civill Magistrate may now act as Salomon (a type of Christ) doth act, 1 King. 2. 26. 27.? Salomons deposing Abiathar (… Kings 2. 26. 27…) discussed.Salomon thrust out Abiathar from being Priest unto Iehovah.
Peace.
Some object that Abiathar was a man of death, ver. 26. worthy to die, as having followed Adonijah; and therefore Salomon executed no more then Civill justice upon him.
Truth.
Salomon remits the Civill punishment,Salomon his putting Abiathar from the Priesthood, examined. and inflicts upon him a spirituall. but by what right, but as he was King of the Church, a figure of Christ?
Abiathar his Life is spared with respect to his former good service in following after David; but yet he is turned out from the Priesthood.
But now put the case: suppose that any of the Officers of the New-England Churches should prove false to the State, A case put upon occasion of Abiathars case.and be discovered joyning with a French Monsieur, or Spanish Don, (thirsting after conquest and dominion) to further their invasions of that Countrey; yet for some former faithfull service to the State, he should not be adjudged to Civill punishment: I aske now, might their Governours or their Generall Court (their Parliament) depose such a man, a Pastour, Teacher, or Elder, from his holy Calling or office in Gods House?
Or suppose in a partiall and corrupt State,Another …ase. a Member or Officer of a Church should escape with his life upon the commission of marther, ought not a Church of Christ upon repentance to receive him? I suppose it will not be said that he ought to execute himselfe; or that the Church may use a Civill sword against him. In these cases may such persons (spar'd in civill punishments for some reason of, or by partialitie of State) be punished spiritually by the Civill Magistrate, as Abiathar was? Let the very Enemies of Zion be Judges.
Secondly, If Salomon in thrusting out of Abiathar was a pattern and president unto all Civill Magistrates, why not also in putting Za…k in his roome, ver. 35. But against this the Pope, the Bishops, the Presbyterians, and the Independents will all cry out against such a practice in their severall respective claimes and challenges for their Ministries.
We find the Libertie of the subjects of Christ in the choice of an Apostle, The liberties of Christs Churches in the choice of their officers. A civill influence dangerous to the Saints liberties.Act. 1. of a Deacon, Act. 6. of Elders, Act. 14. and guided by the assistance either of the Apostles or Evangelists, 1 Tim. 1. Tit. 1. without the least influence of any civill Magistrate, which shewes the beauty of their liberty.
The Parliaments of England have by right free choice of their Speaker, yet some Princes have thus farre beene gratified as to nominate, yea and implicitely to commend a Speaker to them. Wise men have seene the evill consequences of those influences (though but in civill things) how much farre greater and stronger are those snares, when the golden Keyes of the Sonne of God are delivered into the hands of civill Authority?
Peace.
You know the noise raised concerning those famous acts of Asa, Hezekiah, Iehosaphat, Iosiah. What thinke you of the Fast proclaimed by Iehosaphat? 2 Chron. 20. 3.
Truth.
I finde it to be the duty of Kings and all in authority, to incourage Christs Messengers of Truth proclaiming Repentance, &c.
But under the Gospel to enforce all naturall and unregenerate people to acts of worship, what president hath Christ Iesus given us?
First,Jehosaphats …ast examined. tis true Iehosaphat proclaimed a Fast, &c. but was he not in matters spirituall a type of Christ, the true King of Israel?
Secondly, Iehosaphat calls the members of the true Church to Church service and worship of God.
But consider,If civill powers may inj…y…e the time o… the Churches w…rship, the may also forbid her times. if civill Powers now may judge of and determine the actions of worship proper to the Saints: I… they may appoint the time of the Churches worship, Fasting and Prayer, &c. why may they not as wel forbid those times which a Church of Christ shall make choice of, seeing it is a branch of the same Root to forbid what lik…th not, as well as to injoyne what pleaseth?
And if in those most solemne duties and exercises, why not also in other ordinary meetings and worships? And if so, where is the power of the Lord Jesus bequeathed to his Ministers and Churches, of which the power of those Kings was but a shadow?